We have a lot of special things happening this year, but here are a few of the big events. We will need lots of parent help in order for these to succeed.

An exploration of foods that crossed the Atlantic as a result of the Columbian Exchange will take place November 18. 

We need parent help to prepare Old World and New World foods. Do you have any terrific recipes that will honor foods from either side of the Atlantic? Click here for a list of Old World and New World Foods. For terrific background information on the Columbian Exchange, see the Smithsonian's Seeds of Change Garden.

A celebration of 18th century life in the American Colonies. Dress the part and join us for a day of Colonial games, dances, crafts, and foods. We will explore the reasons the colonists disliked King George through a simulation on "taxation without representation" and play a board game from Colonial Williamsburg. Scheduled for January 27.

Parents, we need your help with preparation of colonial costumes and food (recipes cheerfully provided), assisting at game and craft stations, set up and clean up. An enormous amount of information on colonial life in the 18th century can be found at the Colonial Williamsburg website.

Gaze at the planets. See stars, nebulae, and even galaxies! The Astronomical Society of Nevada brings their telescopes to the playground for an evening of star gazing. Dress warmly and do your homework early! Probably in January.

Fifth grade students will "testify before Congress" about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We need people interested in civics and community service to act as judges and to help facilitate this event. This is a mandatory evening event, tentatively scheduled for April 6.

For more information about our study of the Constitution, check out the website for We the People...The Citizen and the Constitution, our textbook, at the Center for Civic Education. This program is funded by the United States Department of Education by act of Congress with the goal of promoting civic competence and responsibility.